Shloka 18
अध्याय ८७: कृष्णस्य हस्तिनापुरप्रवेशः
Krishna’s Entry into Hastināpura and Court Reception
दूतश्न हि हृषीकेश: सम्बन्धी च प्रियश्न नः । अपाप: कौरवेयेषु स कथं बन्धमर्हति,“श्रीकृष्ण इस समय दूत बनकर आ रहे हैं। वे हमारे प्रिय और सम्बन्धी भी हैं तथा उन्होंने कौरवोंका कोई अपराध भी नहीं किया है। ऐसी दशामें वे कैद करनेके योग्य कैसे हो सकते हैं?”
dūtaś ca hi hṛṣīkeśaḥ sambandhī ca priyaś ca naḥ | apāpaḥ kauraveyeṣu sa kathaṃ bandham arhati ||
Vaiśampāyana said: “Hṛṣīkeśa (Kṛṣṇa) is indeed coming now as an envoy. He is our beloved kinsman as well, and he has committed no offense against the sons of Kuru. In such a situation, how could he possibly deserve to be seized and imprisoned?”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores dharma in diplomacy: an envoy—especially a blameless, respected kinsman—should not be harmed or detained. Ethical restraint and respect for diplomatic norms are presented as essential even amid escalating conflict.
As tensions before the Kurukṣetra war intensify, Kṛṣṇa is coming to the Kauravas as a peace envoy. The speaker argues that since Kṛṣṇa is dear, related, and has done no wrong to the Kauravas, the idea of arresting him is unjustifiable.